Ann Christophersen, co-owner of Women & Children First Bookstore, has been elected president of the board of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), the first Chicago bookseller—as well as the first owner of a feminist bookstore—ever to serve in that position. The ABA represents more than 2,000 independent bookstores across the United States, providing education and support to its members on industry issues and, during the past decade, acting as their legal advocate in ground-breaking lawsuits that have challenged the trade practices of major book publishers and chain bookstores.
"Ann Christophersen is the perfect person to lead the ABA at this crucial time in the evolution of the retail bookselling world," said ABA Chief Executive Officer Avin Domnitz. "Her fierce independence, excellence as a bookseller, and steady, thoughtful leadership make her uniquely qualified for the task at hand. Coming from a specialty bookshop that continues to withstand the rigors of the fierce onslaught of chain competition in Chicago only enhances the personal qualities of integrity, honesty, and forthrightness which mark Ann as a leader admired by the entire independent bookselling world."
"The last decade has been challenging to independent stores," Christophersen said. "The retail environment has shifted dramatically because of the huge growth in chain bookstores, non-book discount retailers who began carrying books, and the online book retailers."
She noted that, while many independent stores have been forced to close, the independents that remain open have managed to keep the market share of book sales by independents constant, at about 15 percent of total retail sales. "Much of the success of the remaining independent stores is due to coalition-building and cooperative efforts initiated by the ABA," Christophersen said.
The biggest challenge now facing the ABA is to increase the independent stores' share of an increasingly competitive market. "This isn't just an issue of keeping bookstores in business," she said, "but of ensuring that there will be a diverse, intelligent consumer base for independent voices in American publishing. Chains emphasize blockbuster titles. It's the independents who have historically promoted works by literary, minority, and emerging authors."
Christophersen founded Women & Children First with co-owner Linda Bubon in 1979. She has long been an activist in Chicago-area political and community organizations, including stints on the boards of the Crossroads Fund and the Gerber-Hart Library, and as president of the Mayor's committee for Gay and Lesbian Issues. She has served on the board of the ABA for the past four years, the last two in the capacity of vice president. She assumed the presidency at the BookExpo America (BEA) convention in New York City.
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